U-Haul Rips Customer Off Again Faulty Gas Gauge Costs $114.00 in extra fees Surrey British Columbia

On Sunday July 19, 2009 I rented a U-Haul Truck to move some furnature. When I picked up the truck I was told it had to be back by 3pm. I stated that the advertised price was $19.95 per/day. I was then told that this price was based on availability and with some bitiching from me they told me to have it back by 4pm. I should have walked away at this point. After the few regular check that U-Haul employees do I started on by trip. Within just a few minutes of driving the truck I noticed that the exhuast was very loud and there was a strong smell of exhaust in the cab

I call back the U-Haul dealer and voiced my concerns and asked for another truck. Even with 15+ trucks parked in the lot I was told that there was no others available and to drive with the windows open.

I drove the truck home, loaded it the furnature and started out to deliver it. The brakes were pulsating and locking up. With no other choice but to continue I completed my trip, went an put enough gas to fill the truck to the 1/4 mark.

I pulled into the U-Haul lot and went into the office to complete the paperwork. I was told that the truck was not filled to the 1/4 mark. I explained that the truck was filled to the 1/4 mark 10 blocks away and if fact the fuel gauge was reading 1/4+ when I drove from the gas station to the U-Haul lot.

I was told that I would have to drive to the gas station and put more gas in. I asked how would I know when I'd put enough gas in. I was told when the gauge read 1/4. We argued and finally I said forget it. They closed the account and said I owed $114.00 for a late payment fee, fuel surcharge and $1.60 per litre for gas. I asked if I could return with a gas can to put more gas in the truck. I was told it was to late the account was closed. I also asked to see the most current safety inspection on the truck I rented and was told that they did not know where it was.

I then called the Head Office and was told I would get a call back within 48 hours. I received no phone call. I finally was able to speak with someone after multiple phone calls and spoke with the Vice President of Disputes. I expaline my story and was told I would have to deal with the local office where I rented the truck. I explained that I would not call them or deal with their rude staff. She agreed to call them. 8 hours later I received a phone call and was told nothing could be done. If I did not pay the file would be sent to collections.

I called the BC Government Commercial Truck Inpectors to report what I believe was an unsafe truck. I was told that there was nothing that they could do. All of U-Hauls trucks have out of province license plates, that if the went to check this truck it would not be there and could not be located. I was told that the only way to enforce the MVA with U-Haul was after one of U-Hauls Trucks gets into an accident. The person I spoke with feels that most of the U-Hual Truck would fail safety inspections

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Surrey, British Columbia
Canada